ABOUT
Our Mission
About Us
Originally, the Foundation sought to promote the causes of musical education and musical philanthropy by providing scholarships for promising students, supporting the construction of buildings for music organizations, and directing aid to retired music teachers.
Over time, the Foundation has evolved to support a broad array of music genres, expand its grantmaking areas, convene its nonprofit partners at special events, and collaborate with fellow funders, while continuing to follow the original intent and wishes of Theodore Presser.
Our Values
Our Commitments
Our Grantmaking Commitments
The Foundation has two grantmaking programs (Undergraduate Scholar Award and Graduate Music Award) that provide awards to outstanding music undergraduate and graduate students. The Foundation also has an Assistance to Music Teachers program that provides stipends to retired music teachers with demonstrated financial need. Theodore Presser was deeply committed to providing support for both music students and retired teachers, and the Foundation is committed to continuing to provide funding for those individuals.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, Anti-Racism, & Anti-Bigotry
The Presser Foundation is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, pro-active anti-racism, and anti-bigotry in all areas of music. We reject racism and bigotry in all their manifestations and seek to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in our processes, practices, and decisions.
Knowing that the power of music transcends words and speaks directly to the human experience, we understand how vitally important it is to renounce social and cultural injustices, to fight for social justice, and to work vigorously for a more humane and inclusive future. Music provides one of the strongest and most fertile platforms for accomplishing this mission, and we encourage everyone, including our grantees, their audiences, and their beneficiaries, to join us in this essential effort.
Our Commitment to recognizing who was here first, how they were moved, and why it matters
The Presser Foundation recognizes and celebrates how we all benefit from indigenous wisdom and culture. The Foundation realizes that we play a role in embracing, including, and amplifying, but not tokenizing, Indigenous American voices and music. While the Foundation strives to incorporate equity in all forms in our values, our work, and our practices, we realize that we fall short. The Presser Foundation is committed to learn more, be accountable, and grow from the history and pain of this land.
What is a land acknowledgement?
The act of performing a land acknowledgement is a basic and fundamental step towards reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and colonizers who occupy the land. To learn more, visit our Resources page.
